This morning there was a warm royal welcome back to rowing barge Gloriana. Her Majesty The late Queen named the barge Gloriana as a lasting legacy to mark her Diamond Jubilee and the 84ft vessel is a resident berth holder at St Katharine Docks Marina.

Costing £2 million and taking 5 months to build, Gloriana was launched in London in 2012. Its design and build resonates from traditional Viking boat construction and subsequently other Royal and state row barges of the 17th and 18th Centuries.

The royal barge will be berthed once again in the west basin beside the historic Coronarium at the Docks and will be showcasing at the forthcoming Classic Boat Festival, 7th and 8th September.